14 September 2011 3:24 PM

IDS is right to insist that the unemployed learn English

This morning came the news that unemployment in the three months up to July has risen by 80,000. It is now at 2.51 million. What is to be done about it? One approach is to look at the economics. What are the barriers to job creation? How can the Government get out of the way of those wishing too start up and expand business?

There is certainly considerable potential for the Government to do a lot more so far as this is concerned. But there would be a requirement for political boldness to have proper spending cuts to make room for some tax cuts. Also for a willingness to defy the trade unions and the European Union in removing the fear to recruit. Businessman are worried that if they take someone on and it doesn't work out that the costs and hassle of getting rid of them would be too high. So they prefer to coast along rather than expand. Allowing that mentality to exist among our entrepreneurs is a betrayal of those 2,510,000 of our citizens without jobs. Yet it is not the entrepreneurs (and potential entrepreneurs) to blame - it is the Government to blame for holding them back.

But there is another aspect of this, aside from the economics. Supposing we made it attractive for business to recruit. What is the prospect that those they take on will be able to prove their worth? To add profit to the enterprise?

One thing that would quite often help would be if they were able to speak English. It is estimated that 67,000 on "Job Seekers Allowance" (the dole to you and me) have such negligible grasp of our native tongue that their chances of getting a job are negligible. How can they fill in a job application? How can they even answer questions at a job interview?

They will, we are assured, face benefit cuts unless they turn up for English classes. Very tough and right wing, some will whine. But those who protest are the people whose alternative is to write them off. To leave them languishing on benefits. The "soft bigotry of low expectations."

The Chancellor the Exchequer George Osborne has a duty to ensure that businessman who give the jobless a chance find the rewards mean taking the risk is worth it. The Lib Dems are working away in Government to quietly frustrate such measures coming to fruition. The Labour Party, while posing as the friends of the unemployed, are openly hostile to any measure to smooth the path to job creation.

But all is not lost. The Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith was famous for his failure as Tory leader. But the determination of a quiet man could yet yield dividends. He used to serve in the Scots Guards. His job is now to make sure those 2.5 million people on JSA are licked into shap rather than just lounging at home taking "free money" from the rest of us. They should be looking for jobs and need to be fit to take them on. They are under an obligation to cooperate in their own interests as well as the interests of the taxpayer.

Employers need to have confidence that when they take someone on that from their first day they will be able to make a positive contribution. Speaking the same language would be a useful start.

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